Tracer for projectiles



RJL. LOWMAN-b TRACER FOR PROJECTILES.

APPLICATION FILED APR. :9. 1,310.708.

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TRAC R FOR- PEGEEG'EKLES.

Application 211cc April 19, M13.

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aid invention relates to improvea tracers for prqectnes and has tor by utiiieing the inertia of a movable eetile. 1e available due to this :ie is oependent upon the acceleration Led to the iroiectile upon discharge the iron. The force employed is comerred to as set-back? to accompanyingdrawings made a @art hereof and on which reference characters indicate simi' I no, provided with a tracer of my traction,

ngitndinal section through. the I ,(hn'ient showing the construction 2; and

rawings the no: cions merited A sheli of the projectile and B I the tracer. The body or cas- "acer is formed screw threaded ear its enter end and adapt ins d through a 'screw-tilrcadcd in re base of the projectile A. and ticwto by engagement between tried portion and the threads lit has a head 11, the Front s adapted to abut against or nearthe outer end of in the base of the shell, as

Fig. i.

is formed with a central i k from rear to a point near inner end and has a tubular shell 12 inked therein containing the tracer co1nlUi't 13. A cap holder 14 is mounted end said tube 12 having a to ontain a cap and. formed with. per-tare 16 ,cornmunicating with. containing the tracer composisk 1.7 preicrabiy torined slotted ntral hole, as shown in Fig. 3,

39's? 1 specification Letters Patent.

roiectiies, which the following is a speci-' OQjt tthe 'gnition of the tracer romposicer um-tron with a part fixed in the s aQyieW'ot' projectile, of an a detail colon view of the disk 17.; i Upon discharge the acceleration of the shell is PatentedJnly 22, rare.

Serial No. 229,599. 7

its edges areadapted to rest on all annular shoulder in the casin B at point 18. A combined plug and firing pin 19 is mounted outside said disk, formed with a central projection. 20, constituting the firing pin iproper, and with an annular rirn extendmg beyond said projection adapted to rest against the outer edge of the disk 17. A

the plug 19 and prevent gases from passing into the chamber containing the other parts of the device. The combination plug'and firing pin 19 bears upon the/shoulder 18 and prevents pressure from the gun chamber crushing the gas sealing device and the pressure against these parts holds the disk 17 in place. The cap holder 14 with the can 15, the tube 12 and the tracer composition 13 are only held from moving rearwardly by the resistance of said disk-17.

so great that the inertiaof the tube 12,tracer composition 13, and connected parts is so reat that it overcomes the resistance oilered by said disk 17 breaks through the same forces the rear end of the cap holder through said. disk, brings the cap F against the firing pin 20 and causes the cap to explode. The resistance offered by disk 17is determined by the extent and number of Slots and size of central hole, well as by the material oi which it is composed, as will 'be' readily understood. The fire from the explosion passes through the perforation 16 into the tube B and ignites the tracer composition 13. As soon as the projectile leaves the gun and the pressure on the base of the tracer is relieved the gas generated by the burning of the tracer composition forces the cap holder 14, snug 19 and connected parts to tardation of the shell on account of the air resistance. Vhen the parts behind the tracer composition are expelled from the casing, the flame from such composition is visible in the rear of the projectile and enables one to follow its flight.

It will be understood of course that modifications in the details be made Without departing from the spirit of my invention as defined in the following claims.

Having thus fully described my said invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A shell provided with a tracer attachment comprising a body or casing, a movable member in said casing containing the tracer composition and having a cap holder on its outer end, a firing pin positioned on a plug held in a fixed position in the outer end of said casing, and a fragile. resistance device between the firing pin and the cap holder, substantially as set fort 2. A projectile provided with a tracer attachment consisting of a shell fixed inits rear end, a sliding member mounted in said shell containing a tracer burningcomposition, a cap holder separably carried in the rear end of said sliding member, a firing pin positioned in the rear end of the bore of said shell and a fragile resistance device mounted between said cap holder and said firing pin, said cap holder being formed with a communication leading into the chamber containing the tracer composition whereby when the shell is fired the inertia of the member containing the tracer composition and'the cap holder is adapted to overcome the resist-' ance of the fragile device and bring the cap carried by the cap holder against the firing pin and cause the same to explode and the fire to pass through the aperture into the chamber containing the tracer composition of construction may.

and ignite the same, blowing out Irom the rear of the tracer a'ttachment'shell thefiring pin and the cap holder and permitting the products of combustion from the burning of the tracer composition to pass from said chamber out the rear of the shell, substantially as set forth.

3. A tracer for projectiles comprising a casing adapted to be fixed in the rear end of the projectile and formed with a central bore closed at its inner end, a sliding member containing the tracer composition mounted in said bore, a cap holder separably secured to said sliding member, a block carrying a firing pin positioned in line With the cap of the cap holder, and a fra ile retaining device interposed between sald cap holder and said firing pin block, substantially as set forth.

4. A tracer for projectiles comprising a casing,, a tube for containing the tracer composition mounted to slide' therein, a cap holder mounted to move with said tube, a fixed plug with a central firing pin in line with the cap holder and a fragile retaining device interposed between said cap holder and said firing pin, substantially as set forth.

5. A tracer for projectiles comprising a casing, a movable member containing the tracer composition mounted therein, a cap holder, .and a pin formed-with a central 7 firing pin and held in position by pressure from the gun, substantiall as set forth.

In witness whereof, I li ave hereunto set my hand and seal at Washington, District of Columbia, this 11th day of April, A. D. f nineteen hundred and eighteen.

ROY LEIGHTON LOWMAN. [L. 8.] 

